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Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.

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New Tax Measures in 2024


The Canadian government has introduced new tax measures that will affect Canadians in 2024. These measures include the elimination of some short-term rental deductions, new alternative minimum tax rates, and changes to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions. The elimination of some short-term rental deductions was announced in the Fall Economic Statement (FES) and kicks in on Jan. 1. The federal government is now eliminating that tax break, denying operators of short-term rentals any income tax deductions for expenses if they operate in provinces or municipalities that have banned short-term rentals. In provinces that still allow short-term rentals, operators that are not compliant with local regulations and laws will also be denied the deduction.

The GST/HST exemptions will also be affected. The federal government announced it was taking the GST/HST off “professional services rendered by psychotherapists and counselling therapists.”

These changes are not expected to have a significant impact on most individuals, unless they’re high-income earners.

    

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